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Effects of dietary supplementation and work stress on ovarian activity in non-lactating Mashona cows in a small-holder farming area of Zimbabwe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

M. Chimonyo ,
N. Kusina ,
H. Hamudikuwanda ,
O. Nyoni  and
I. Ncube
M. Chimonyo
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe PO Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare
N. Kusina*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe PO Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare
H. Hamudikuwanda
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe PO Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare
O. Nyoni
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe PO Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare
I. Ncube
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe PO Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare
*
†Corresponding author.
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Abstract

The effects of work stress and dietary supplementation on ovarian activity were determined in 16 multiparous Mashona cows in Sanyati Communal Area, which lies in a semi-arid environment of Zimbabwe. The cows were assigned to one of four treatments: supplemented working (SW), supplemented non-working (SNW), non-supplemented working (NSW) and non-supplemented non-working (NSNW) cows in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement with two dietary and two work levels. Cows in the SW and NSW groups pulled a cart with a 200-1 water drum for 18 km (9 km with drum empty, 9 km with drum full) every day for 5 days/week for a total of 12 weeks.

Rectal temperatures were recorded at specific points along the route to and from the river where the water was obtained. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture once a week, before working, for the determination of plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). In addition, blood samples were collected once every 3 days for the determination of progesterone concentration. There were no differences (P > 0⋅05) in the rectal temperatures between SW and NSW cows. Cows in the NSW group had the highest decrease in glucose levels and also showed marked increases in NEFA concentrations. The incidence of ovarian activity was similar between SNW and SW cows (P > 0⋅05). The incidence of ovarian activity was least in NSW cows. We conclude that nutritional stress was more important in suppressing ovarian activity than work stress and that dietary supplementation can reduce the negative effects of draught on ovarian activity.

Keywords

cowsmetabolitesovarian activitysupplementary feedingwork stress
Type
Reproduction
Information
Animal Science , Volume 70 , Issue 2 , April 2000 , pp. 317 - 323
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2000

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